BaL 17.09.16 - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

[gurnemanz]

Like most people I have several CD versions. Favourite is probably Onofri with Giovanni Antonini and Il Giardino Armonico. Out of curiosity I crept into the garage and checked old LP versions. I found two offerings from the 1970s: Josef Suk with Prague Chamber Orchestra and Sinfonia Di Siena on cheapo Saga, definitely my favourite at the time.



Not sure if either made it to digital.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sinfonia Di Siena on cheapo Saga, definitely my favourite at the time.

If memory serves me correctly, this version was a BaL top choice way-way back in the mid-'70s.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If memory serves me correctly, this version was a BaL top choice way-way back in the mid-'70s.

I didn't know BaL had been going for as long as that. When did it begin?

[doversoul1]

I didn't know BaL had been going for as long as that. When did it begin?

This was published in 1979

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=604121892&searchurl=kn%3DBBC%26sts%3Dt%26tn%3Dbuilding%2Ba%2Blibrary%26sortby%3D17

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I didn't know BaL had been going for as long as that. When did it begin?

As long as I've been listening to it at least - so since 1974-ish. There was a paperback book edited by John Lade that came out in around 1977/78 that was a selection of BaL choices, some of which pre-dated when I started listening. (Joseph Cooper's [in]famous recommendation of Hanae Nakajima's Emperor Concerto was from the early-mid '70s.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This was published in 1979
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo...%26sortby%3D17

There was a paperback book edited by John Lade that came out in around 1977/78 that was a selection of BaL choices, some of which pre-dated when I started listening.

... or '79!

[BBMmk2]

Could some kind forum member upload a picture of the version I rather liked in the 70s and still do, and that's the Alan Loveday ASMF/ Marriner, recording, please?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[BBMmk2]

Thank you, Ferney. Most kind. Absolute classic recording, imo, if there ever was one!

[pastoralguy]

I'm sure there was mention of this recording the Times obituary for Alan Loveday. Iirc, he had to bribe workman outside St. Martin's in the Field to cease work so the recording could be completed. I'm sure there was a story involving alcohol too!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm sure there was mention of this recording the Times obituary for Alan Loveday. Iirc, he had to bribe workman outside St. Martin's in the Field to cease work so the recording could be completed.

There's a similar story in the Torygraph Obit, but not involving bribes:

Although Loveday had been at the Royal College of Music with Marriner in the mid-1940s, he initially resisted the conductor’s overtures to join the newly formed ASMF in 1959, not coming on board until 1965. When he did, the Four Seasons disc almost did not happen.

Kingsway Hall had been booked for the recording sessions in September 1969. However, five days before they were due to take place part of the ceiling collapsed (reputedly after a vigorous sermon from Donald Soper) and the recording was hastily moved to St John’s Smith Square.

According to Meirion and Susie Harries’s history of the ASMF, even then not all was plain sailing, as the session was shattered by the sound of a pneumatic drill from outside. Eventually Loveday, “puce in the face, his ears protruding with rage … leapt up, stuck his fiddle under his arm, swept out of the church and, with his face an inch from the offender’s, inquired belligerently: 'Do you like sex and travel?’ ” No more drilling was heard.

The full obit (which some Forumistas may not be able to view):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/04/14/alan-loveday-violinist---obituary/

I'm sure there was a story involving alcohol too!

What ?! Connected with a classical violinist?!! Surely not!

This was mentioned in the Grauniad Obit:

With another duo partner, the pianist Leonard Cassini, he recorded works by Beethoven, Brahms, Elgar, Martinů and John Ireland. Loveday recalled a great deal of vodka on a Russian tour in 1954, which he said Cassini engineered through his communist connections.

... but it also mentioned a less amusing point:

Eventually alcohol came to affect his behaviour and reliability as a player, but he battled the addiction successfully and was able to rejoin the ASMF, where he was happy to play in the back desks until his retirement.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/02/alan-loveday-obituary

[HighlandDougie]

On LP, as well as several that are on Ein Alp's list, I have several that are not, presumably they didnt get transferred to CD:

Konstanty Kulka and the Stuttgart Chamber Orch., cond. Munchinger Decca SXL 6557
Luigi Ferro and the Virtuosi Di Roma, cond. Fasano HMV ALP 1234
Renato Biffoli and Gli Accademici di Milano, cond. not stated Stereovox ST.GBY 511480
Reinhold Barchet and the Stuttgart Chamber Orch. cond. Munchinger Decca LXT 5377
Reinhold Barchet and the Stuttgart Chamber Orch. cond. Munchinger Decca LXT 2600

The Stuttgart Chamber Orch. and Munchinger seem to have had a bit of an obsession, since they made three recordings, two with the same violinist. I can see why they made the SXL one, because that was in stereo, whereas the other two were in mono only. Why Decca made two mono versions with the same conductor, soloist and orchestra, I have no idea. I am pretty sure that they are separate recordings, rather than one just being a reissue. Does anyone have any ideas?

I suspect that the Barchet mono versions are one and the same recording. Decca went through a phase in the mid to late 1950s of reissuing earlier LXT 2000 series as LXT 5000 series - they were given laminated glossy colour sleeves, as opposed to the rather plain ones of their earlier incarnations. For instance, I have a fair number of Boult's LPO V-W cycle in both guises: different sleeves and catalogue numbers but the same matrixes. There is also a reference here:

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/LXT-5377-REINHOLD-BARCHET-VIVALDI-The-Four-Seasons-KARL-MUNCHINGER-LP/351229085776

to LXT 5377 being a reissue of LXT 2600. Do I get the prize for the nerdiest post?

[pastoralguy]

I know it's off topic so apologies. I occasionally come across Lps of the late, great Mr. Loveday playing Beethoven sonatas and the concerto and give me a twinge that I don't have a turntable. Alas, they've never been released on cd. A great shame.

[MickyD]

Interesting to remember that Christopher Hogwood joined the ASMF in 1965, playing harpsichord continuo and editing many of the performing editions used.

[peterkin]

Tasmin Little has just released this work, c/w Roxanna Panufnik work.

My favourite recording though, has to be Alan Loveday, ASMF & Marriner.